(no subject)
So, yes, this weekend was the Mid-Autumn festival in China (it certainly doesn't feel like Autumn when it's still over 80 degrees outside!! I guess it's colder in other parts of China!) So we've spent the whole weekend going out and enjoying ourselves until quite late each night because 1. We got paid on saturday. Always a reason to celebrate and 2. It was a friend's birthday and 3. We don't have to work today (Monday). So we certainly spent the weekend celebrating.
We went to see a movie friday night, My Super-Ex-Girlfriend. It was very cute. Uma Thurman is still quite attractive, no matter how much she ages. I've been seeing a LOT of movies here, I think it's because it feels like a touch of home. Feels like something -normal- to do where everyone speaks English! So far, I've seen: Pirates of the Carribean 2, Lady in the Lake, The Devil Wears Prada, Click, The Banquet (A chinese movie, actually), The Lake House, and My Super Ex-Girlfriend. I've never watched so many movies in the theatre in my life!
Saturday I worked for my new company a good part of the day. We have lots of classes on saturday, the only bad thing, but it will probably mean some overtime on saturdays also. And right now it means extra money in my pocket, which is good. Then we went to a great dinner at an Indian restaurant, and just out for beer at a pub.
Yesterday was great. I spent the whole day shopping with Ashleigh. We went into the central part of the city and just started going to all the little out door markets you see, well, everywhere on the street. Then we went up the big, long out doors escalator to the Mid-Levels where the big chinese antiques market is and bought more stuff! Most of it wasn't for me, though. I bought stuff to send home to the family. I just need to find something for Michael (my brother), and I'll be set. Men are very difficult to buy for!
I bought this pocket watch for my dad. It was from the Royal Hong Kong Police when the British were still in Hong Kong (so not that old) but still a collectors item for quite affordable, and it came with a leather case. Though I'm also considering sending that to my grandfather and buying dad something else, 'cause I think Grandpap would really appreciate it, but I sitll have no clue what to get for my dad! I also got dad a cheapie little chinese wine bottle cover, but it's very nice looking, for my father also. I got something for -me- which I might send to Michael, just because it's so hilarious. There were lighters (like zippos) printed for world war II from China, but never exported because of the typos on them. The one I got has a big long spiel on the back about WWII, and then the front has a guy in a gas mask on it and it says: "ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR OAS MASK: Do not use it as a knapsack or pillow" It's really random and amusing! I think michael would get a kick out of it. I certainly did. I think I'm gonna go back and get one for myself, and send one to him.
For my mother, I bought this gorgeous, double sized chinese scarf/shawl. It's maroon on one side and black on the other, feels and is labeled pure silk, and just was drop dead gorgeous. I hope she uses it, it might be a bit -too- dressy for every day. And a nice little chinese hand mirror for her. Oh, I also got a big, gorgeous blue stoned ring that (somehow) was in my size, at the antiques market. And a really nice red/peach pashmina for when/if it ever gets cold here. Yeah, I still have shopping to do. But the great thing about China is I got all of that for under 50 dollars US. And most of them were actual antiques/vintage stuff! It's amazing! This city can be so expensive if you go into the Prada and rich, big name stores, but the markets are still priced for the locals, so you can get everything discounted.
Of course, they automatically inflate the price on you because they assume your a tourist. They ask where I'm from and I say "Well, America, but I live here. I'm a teacher, I don't make much money" and they usually cut the prices in HALF. Wow, are the tourists getting ripped off. I'm getting far, far better at bargining for things, as my trip yesterday shows. I got most things for between 40-60% of the price initially quoted. I actually might go back today. A lot of the markets are only open on holidays.
Then last night was the Mid-Autumn festival's big celebration, and John's birthday. So we all went out to a restaurant at The Peak (The top of the highest mountain on the island) and watched the fireworks from above and had some very nice drinks, if very expensive, before coming back for less expensive drinks at a bar near home. It was a wonderful night over all, but once more I got in very late. Still, I found a bar fairly near my apartment with 38 dollar cocktails (So like... 5.50 bucks Canadian or 5 US) and really good french fries. Reminds me of the green/red room, and suddenly makes the city feel SO MUCH MORE like home.
Today we might go bowling, if I can talk my roommates into it. I heard about some lanes from people yesterday. It'd be a nice, calm, normal activity for a day off.
So that was the weekend. Hong Kong is a great city when I'm not dreading going to work, it seems. I think I'm also, finally, over the worst of the culture shock and learning to embrace and love the differences about this place. Hopefully that's true. I'd hate to come crashing down again. But it's going well.
Miss ya'll.
-E
"Theatre is dynamic, It is constantly in change from performance to performance, so the concept of perfection is meaningless. It's as meaningless as saying 'Oh, Hi, look at me! I'm north of the north pole!'" - Slings and Arrows